One of the country’s most effective food and drink PR companies, RAW Food and Drink PR, is bucking the trend and growing at pace. The Devon based business is now working with Lindt, Kamado Joe, Trewithen Dairy, Westaways and other national brands.
Founder Hayley Reynolds says: “Since it began life in 2011, RAW has followed exactly the same model as the top London food and drink PR agencies. Our point of difference has been that we are Devon based. Due to the size and nature of the county we have ensured we work with the very best team by encouraging, since the start, working flexibly from home. Our clients are not paying for expensive city office space, they are paying for the highest level of expertise across both the more traditional PR practices and the ever evolving world of social media and digital marketing.”
Francis Clarke, managing director of Trewithen Dairy, says: “We have worked with other agencies in the past but love working with RAW. The team understands our needs as a business and really take on board our values. It’s been a difficult year for everyone which has made it even more noticeable when a high level of energy, commitment and creativity is maintained despite everything else going on around.”
It has always been RAW’s philosophy to get the absolute best results for all in the most approachable way. When lockdown hit in March the company invested a lot of time supporting Food Drink Devon and its members and has recently got behind raising awareness of the plight of the events’ industry. The world of food and drink is having a tough time and needs a strong, collaborative approach to cope with the current rollercoaster brought about by Covid-19 and Brexit.
Gabriel David, founder of Luscombe Drinks, says: “Our business was hit hard by the closing down of the hospitality industry earlier this year. Hayley and the team swept in with positivity and have helped us in our immediate need to get Luscombe directly into the hands of consumers through a new online shop, which was set up within just a few weeks back in March. Any previous thoughts of needing a London based PR agency have most definitely dispersed as the team at RAW have proven, that despite being based here in our beautiful county, their contacts are second to none.”
With highly credible and experienced journalists on the RAW team such as ex Western Morning News editor-at-large Martin Hesp there is an easy ability for the clients’ stories to be told. It is vital at the moment that these stories are heard and the British food and drink industry is placed in its rightful place, at the very pinnacle of the global offering.
Charles Baughan, managing director of Westaways sausages, says: “We make over 30 miles of sausages a week and package them entirely in certified compostable packaging using Nature Fresh film, so have a lot of positive news to tell. We want to shout from the rooftops about everything we’re doing here and the RAW team certainly knows how to do that!”
Hayley says: “Twenty years ago when I started out in food and drink PR I had no idea that one day I would be running my own agency, with my husband Jonathan whilst raising three children. I also didn’t know back in 2011 when RAW was established that we would be a forerunner for the now normal way of remote working. Like the clients in our portfolio we are growing at a rapid rate and are confident of the long term future which lies ahead.”
RAW’s clients include Lindt, Trewithen Dairy, Luscombe Drinks, Matthews Cotswold Flour, Kamado Joe, Darts Farm, Sharpham Wine, Salcombe Brewery, Sharpham Cheese, Salcombe Gin, Food Drink Devon, The GoodBeef Index, Westaways, Chunk of Devon, Gruppo Fabbri, Masterbuilt, South West Food Hub, Two Drifters, Cove Vodka, Blue Goose Coffee, Hot Smoked, Yarde Farm and South West Wine School.